Convoy Joint NS

Student Council 2024 

Role and Purpose of the 

Student Council

(September 2024)

Role and Purpose of the Student Council 

Convoy Joint N.S. values and encourages pupils’ involvement, voices and ideas in the daily school life and when making school decisions. Our Student Council allows the pupils of Convoy Joint NS to have an active, positive role in the school. 

The Role of the Student Council is to:

• Provide an opportunity for pupils to voice their opinions and offer suggestions in relation to many aspects of school life 

• Discuss issues relevant to the school and encourage and promote initiatives from the pupils

• Enhance communication between pupils, staff, parents and management. 

• Provide and encourage opportunities for pupils (and parents) to organise events and raise funds for charities or for our school equipment fund

• Promote friendship and respect among pupils 

• Organise fun activities for the pupils to create a positive atmosphere in school

• Help out during school events such as Sports Day, school photographs, Christmas Carol Service, Welcome Day, etc. 

Through our Student Council we hope to give the pupils a positive role in the organisation of the school and ensure they feel they are listened to and respected for their ideas and concerns and that they are valued. It involves the pupils in many of the decisions which are made regarding day-to-day running and management of the school. Discussions in classes and at the Council meetings helps to develop social and learning skills in many areas such as speaking and listening, problem solving and decision-making and the decision-making process.

The Election Process

Each year in October, students from 2nd to 6th Class are invited to nominate themselves for a place on the Student Council. Nominees can canvas, give speeches to their classes and engage in debates with other candidates. An election is then held in the hall with private voting. Each student must vote for one boy and one girl from their class and place it in the ballot box. Two students (one boy and one girl) are awarded a place in the Student Council for the academic year. A student can only be elected twice (two years).

The elected pupils are required to be active participants in the Student Council, to attend meetings regularly, participate in activities and be a positive role model for other students. All Student Council members wear a yellow Student Council badge to ensure they are easily identified as Student Council members. Their photo and name are also be displayed on the Student Council display board. If a student is not fulfilling their expected role, they may be removed from the Student Council and replaced by the student with the second highest number of votes. 

What makes a good Student Councillor? 

A good councillor should be:

• A good listener                        -   Trustworthy

• Happy                                      -   Helpful

• Committed                              -    Honest 

• Reliable                                   -   Able to work in a team

• Want to make changes            -   Have good ideas

Student Council meetings

The Council meets monthly in the school hall on Friday afternoons. The meetings are facilitated by Ms. Rankin. The Principal can attend meetings also to be updated on our ideas. The students fulfill the roles within the Council. These roles are nominated and voted for within the Council. The roles within the Student Council are:

• Chairperson

• Secretary and Vice Secretary 

• Treasurer 

• Displays (2 students) 

Prior to meetings, the Student Council collects ideas and suggestions from all classes. There is a suggestion box in each classroom that are read and discussed during the meetings. Ms. Rankin adds topics or upcoming events to the agenda which need to be discussed. The Council report the outcome of the meetings to their classes and add information, photos and date of the next meeting to the Student Council display board (in the hall).

From time to time the Student Council will discuss, make suggestions and decisions on topics such as:

• school rules                                    -  school policies 

• friendship/kindness                       -  lunchtime games and activities

• behaviour                                       -  playground equipment

• care for the building                      -  health and safety

• uniform                                          -  school trips/events

• sports day                                      -  fundraising

• homework                                     

• collaboration with neighbouring schools

• extra-curricular activities 

Conclusion

We are very proud of our Student Council representatives, they play a significant role in organising and helping with many school activities and events in Convoy Joint N.S. and represent their classmates very well. They are developing and improving a more positive, vibrant, child-centered learning environment as a result. 

Student Council Update 

• April ’24 - Our first Student Council in Convoy Joint NS was voted for and established. 

• May ’24 – We participated in the Rollcall for Relay with Highland Radio. The Student Council organised 30 seconds x10 exercises for the whole school to complete together. Each student was asked to bring a €1 donation. We raised €247 for Relay for Life!

• June ’24 – The Student Council gave a list of yard equipment suggestions to Ms. Magee. We bought a set of mini football nets, ankle hoops, skipping ropes and a few more balls. The Student Council also helped out on Sports Day. 

• Sept ’24 – The Student Council decided to add music to the yard for every Friday lunch time to promote fun and positive wellbeing. 

• Oct ’24 – Student Council organised a non-uniform day during kindness week that was coordinated by Mrs Gallen (wellbeing). Student Council decided to raise money for the homeless as an act of kindness. Each family brought in a small donation. We raised €270 for the Simon Community.

• Nov ’24 – The Student Council have added a suggestion box at the back of every classroom for any pupil to add an idea, question or suggestion. This allows all pupil voices to be heard. The ideas will be read and discussed at our monthly meetings. 

• Dec ’24 – The Student Council organsied a Christmas themed ‘Buddy Reading’. 5th and 6th class were partnered with JI and SI and 3rd and 4th were partnered with 1st and 2nd. Lots of great Christmas books were read. The Student Council gave all students a chocolate treat as a Christmas present. 

• Feb '25 - Student Council organised a fun World Book Day (6th March) for the whole school. Every child and teacher dressed up as their favourite book character for the day and we did a character parade with the whole school outside. Every class also did fun activities such as quizzes, bookmark decorating and a live read along with Louise the author of 'Dragonterra'. 
• March '25 - Student Council read the suggestions from the class suggestion boxes and they decided on 3 to implement. These were: weekly kahoot quizzes, swap seats once a month and 6th class hoodies. They also created and wrote thank you cards for all the adults that helped out for Pancake Tuesday in school. 
   
• May '25 - Student Council decided that they wanted to lead a school assembly. They decided on the theme of 'the creation story' and prepared a great assembly where all Student Council members had a role. They led the assembly on the 9th May and the whole school enjoyed listening, answering questions and singing songs. 
   
• June '25 - The Student Council had their final meeting. They discussed the new Bí Cineáltas policy and created a child-friendly policy in poster form that will be displayed around the school. They presented the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind with the €844.50 raised during our Christmas Carol Service and Christmas Jumper Day. Well done and thank you to all of our Student Council members! A new council will be elected in September '25.
• Sept ’25 – Students in school (2^nd – 6^th) nominated themselves to be a member of the Student Council. They all gave a speech to their classmates. 1^st – 6^th class students then voted for one boy and one girl in their class. The new Student Council for 2025-26 was established. 
• Oct ’25 – We had our first Student Council meeting with Ms. Rankin. The specific roles within the council were voted for and elected (chairperson, secretary, treasurer). The council decided to continue with the class suggestion boxes and music during Friday lunch. The Student Council members each read a memory at Ms. Magee’s retirement celebration in front of a large audience. The Council have organised a whole school treat for the end of this half-term, including a pyjama day and goodies! 

Buddy Reading December 2024

5th & 6th class were paried with Junior Infants & Senior Infants

3rd & 4th class were in groups with 1st & 2nd class

Student Council gave everyone a small Christmas treat after!

PJ Day 24/10/25

Thank you to the Student Council for organising a fun PJ Day in school. They gave everyone yummy hot chocolate and a Freddo bar while they enjoyed watching a movie in the classrooms.

Christmas Jumper Day

We enjoyed our Christmas Jumper Day! Thank you to everyone who donated to our chosen charity, Make a Wish Ireland.

Christmas Quiz

The Student Council organised a Christmas Quiz for the whole school. 5th and 6th class joined with Junior and Senior Infants and 3rd and 4th class joined with 1st and 2nd class. They had great fun! Thank you to the Student Council members who corrected and counted the scores. Well done to the winning teams.